Sen. Specter, Democratic Challenger Exchange Jabs Over Party Credentials

Published December 24, 2015

Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak traded sharp blows Thursday, a potential preview of their Democratic primary next year.

Specter called Sestak a "flagrant hypocrite" for challenging Specter's Democratic credentials. Specter switched political parties in April after 29 years as a Republican when it became clear he was headed for an epic GOP primary battle.

Specter said Sestak, a retired Navy vice admiral, didn't register as a Democrat until 2006, when he ran for Congress.

"His lame excuse for avoiding party affiliation, because he was in the service, is undercut by his documented disinterest in the political process," Specter said, noting that Delaware County records showed that Sestak voted in only 12 of 35 general elections from 1971 to 2005. He also pointed out that he did not vote in President Clinton's 1996 election despite working in the White House at the time.

Sestak, a second-term House member who is defying party leaders to run against Specter, fired back by accusing the senator of making "swift boat" attacks on his record.

"We've learned today that Arlen Specter can abandon his party, but he just can't quit making Republican swift boat attacks on the integrity of Democrats who served in our military," he said. "Like Colin Powell (who was registered as an Independent while he served), I believe that military officers should be nonpartisan."

Sestak said he was proud to be an independent during his 35 years in the Navy and to register as a Democrat as soon as he retired from active duty.

"Let's be clear: I voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, and Barack Obama while Arlen Specter was voting for George Bush and Bob Dole and John McCain," he said. "My question to Arlen Specter is this: Do you regret voting for George Bush and John McCain? Why should Democrats support someone like you who actively campaigned -- as recently as last year -- for politicians with values like George W. Bush?"

Sestak disupted Specter's claim that he didn't vote in the 1992 general election and noted that he didn't vote in any primary elections because independents are prohibited from voting in party primaries in Pennsylvania.

"As for my voting record, Arlen Specter should get his facts straight," he said. "It's sad that after 30 years in Washington, all Arlen Specter has to run on is a negative campaign."

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/sen-specter-democratic-challenger-exchange-jabs-over-party-credentials